Wordplay by Ivan Brunetti
Published by New York, NY: TOON Books, (2019).
ISBN: 978194314571
Age Level: JGN Grades K-1, INTEREST LEVEL: Age 3+
Awards & Distinctions: Young Hoosier Book Award, 2019-2020, K-3
Nominee
Summary: Calling all bookworms! Go “outside,”
“elsewhere,” and down the “rabbit hole” with this hilarious introduction to
compound words. Young readers will fall in love with the English language as
they watch star cartoonist Ivan Brunetti put his sly spin on vocabulary. The
lesson here? Even “homework” is fun when you let yourself play with the words.
Personal
Comments: I saw
several copies of this graphic novel for young children had been returned to
the library, so I thought I would take a look at the book. The book is a JGN
teaching kids about ‘compound words.’ It is a simple book and I chose it
because the illustrations were cute, and it was a book trying to help children
learn about compound word in a fun way. At the end of the book there is a
section on “How to Read comics with kids.” (Guide young readers, ham it up! let
them guess, talk about the pictures, and above all enjoy).
Their website:
www. Toon-Books.com
comes with free online cartoon makers, lesson plans and more.
https://www.toon-books.com/our-mission.html Comics are a gateway drug to literacy."
—Art Spiegelman, Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Maus, A Survivor's Tale
—Art Spiegelman, Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Maus, A Survivor's Tale
Reviews
and Resources:
"Throughout, humorous digitally colored cartoon illustrations
provide context clues for readers decoding the compound-word-rich text. The use
of panels in the well-designed spreads makes it easy to follow the engaging,
sequential illustrations. Praiseworthy!"
An amusing language arts lesson in a comic book format, perfect for
individual or small group sharing. What’s not to love?
“A funny and thoughtful interview” between Alex
Dueben and Ivan Brunetti who returns to comics with his first graphic novel for
kids.
This playful graphic novel for early readers
offers an entertaining lesson in some quirks of the English language.
Published by New York:
Balzer + Bray, An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, (2018).
ISBN: 9780062742322
Age Level: TEEN FIC. 14+ Audience: 980L
Awards & Distinctions: National Book Award Finalist. Printz Honor Book
Summary: "The rite has
existed for as long as anyone can remember: When the king dies, his son the
prince must venture out into the gray lands, slay a fierce dragon, and rescue a
damsel to be his bride. This is the way things have always been. When Ama wakes
in the arms of Prince Emory, she knows none of this. She has no memory of what
came before she was captured by the dragon or what horrors she faced in its
lair. She knows only this handsome young man, the story he tells of her rescue,
and her destiny of sitting on a throne beside him. It's all like a dream, like
something from a fairy tale. As Ama follows Emory to the kingdom of Harding,
however, she discovers that not all is as it seems. There is more to the
legends of the dragons and the damsels than anyone knows, and the greatest
threats may not be behind her, but around her, now, and closing in" --
Front jacket flap of novel.
Personal Comments: I could not put this book down. I almost read it in one
night. There is graphic violence, sexuality and rape within the story, but it
is done in such a way as it is not blatant, even though as a female I could not
believe what Ama had to endure. As an adult, this book seems to be too old for
teens, but again the damsel is a ‘young virgin’ girl who is at the mercy of a
man (prince, king). So, I have added this YouTube video review of the book
which addresses the issue that young girls need to be strong and assertive. Ama
is an example of a strong female character..
This incisively written allegory rips into a familiar story and sets it aflame.
Highly recommended for high school libraries where literary feminist retellings
are popular.
This original fairy tale begins with Prince Emory on the dangerous quest
required to prove himself worthy of his father's recently vacated throne:
saving a damsel from a dragon. Though somewhat reminiscent in plot of Beagle's the
Last Unicorn, Arnold's wrenching tale is more akin in theme and tone to
Lanagan's Tender Morsels (rev. 9/08) or The Brides of Rollrock Island (rev.
9/12)—lyrical, brutal, and unapologetically feminist.
With haunting prose and lush descriptions, Arnold (What Girls Are Made Of) weaves a terrifying tale that explores contemporary
conversations about rape culture, misogyny, male entitlement, female agency,
and the need for consent. The message is as timely as it is vital, but frank
discussions of self-harm, physical and emotional abuse, and descriptions of
sexual violence may not be appropriate for readers at the younger end of the
stated range. Ages 14–up
Q & A with Elana K. Arnold by Sara Grochowski
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/82302-q-a-with-elana-k-arnold.html
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
Published by New
York, NY: Boston: JIMMY Patterson Books, Little, Brown and Company, 2018.
ISBN: 9780316561365
Age Level: TEEN FIC, 14+
Awards & Distinctions: A Junior Library Guild selection (JLG.)
Summary: "When
Lei, seventeen, is stolen from her home to become one of nine Paper Girls, the
Demon King's concubines, she proves to be more fire than paper." Each
year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's
the highest honor they could hope for... and the most cruel. But this year,
there's a ninth girl... and she's made of fire. Lei is a member of the lowest
and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She's forced to go with the royal guards
after her golden eyes pique the king's interest. Forced to learn the skills and
charm that befit being a king's consort, Lei does the unthinkable-- she falls
in love. As an explosive plot threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, Lei must
decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge. -- adapted
from jacket.
Personal
Comments: This is a
very descriptive book combining cultures, old-world China and Chinese
mythology. Even though, the female characters are dominated by male figures
(Demon King and his warriors), Lei and Wren the main protagonists, are strong
courageous women who defy their station in life as concubines to the Demon King
and follow their own destinies to help their people. This book reminds me of We
Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia (a must read) which is similar to Girls
of Paper and Fire about women dominated by men with strong female
characters.
Reviews
and Resources:
Ngan grew up in Malaysia, and the setting shows the influence of several
Asian cultures: The Hidden Palace resembles China's Forbidden Palace, the king
forces the girls to drink sake, characters wear Malaysian kebayas and Chinese
cheongsams. Lei's fate echoes those of the imperial concubines held by several
Chinese emperors, as well as the "comfort women" forced to service
World War II Japanese troops in Malaysia and other countries. Lei and her
allies have backstories and motivations that make their situation all the more
disturbing. VERDICT A deeply unsettling look at forced prostitution
for mature readers of fantasy. Consider for purchase where Ellen Hopkins's
Tricks and Traffick are popular.
Ngan's plot is tense and tight, her action sequences are elegant and
adrenaline-soaked, and her story's stakes increase exponentially through the
pulse-pounding conclusion. She champions self-empowerment while condemning classism,
homophobia, and the commodification of women. What most distinguishes this
book, though, is how incisively and intoxicatingly Ngan writes about love. Ages
15–up. (Oct.)
Book
Trailer
The Wormworld Saga, Volume I, The Journey Begins, (Graphic Novel),
by Daniel Lieske
Published by [St.
Louis, Missouri]: Cub House, 2018.
ISBN: 9781941302712
Age Range: JGN, 9-12
Summary: The
summer after elementary school, daydreamer Jonas finds a doorway to another
world. HE stumbles upon a strange
painting in his grandmother’s attic, where he is drawn through it, into the
Wormworld, a place beyond his wildest imaginings, filled with strange
creatures, strange landscapes, and strange people. Bewildered, lost, and
afraid, Jonas is told that he alone in this foreign place has the power to stop
a sinister force set to emerge from the darkest legends to wreak new
destruction on this haunting and beautiful world.
Personal Comments: This is the first book in the series. There are four
books to date. The illustrations are fantastic. It reminds me of Alice going
down the rabbit hole and ending up in another world. But, for Jonas, his
adventure finds him as the savior, and he cannot come back to his own world until
everything is resolved in this new world. This first book is a good set up for
the following books; I have read all three and I am on a wait list for the
fourth which is on order at the library. It looks like the series could go on
for a while. But each book does have an ending point with the promise of more
to come.
Reviews and Resources:
The digitally
rendered artwork is often lush, particularly in scenes within the richly
colored forest. This is a promising launch to a portal fantasy adventure series
The Wormworld Saga is a solidly
written and illustrated story. Its opening volume does exactly what you’d
expect. It feels familiar, which ultimately acts as double-edged sword. On one
hand, it’s a relatable story. Older Jonas’ narration recognizes a lot of the
tropes and conventions that we grew up with. On the other hand, not much is
done to truly distinguish Wormworld from other fantasy worlds out there. This
is the burden of the opening act. Yet Lieske does succeed in creating an
alluring atmosphere and suggests a much more ambitious telling.
Book
Trailer: A portal in a painting.
A destiny in another dimension.
What can one human boy do?
Enter the Wormworld ... and see!
A destiny in another dimension.
What can one human boy do?
Enter the Wormworld ... and see!
Illustrations
Published by New York:
Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2018]
ISBN: 9780062653871
Age Level: 8-12, JGN
Summary: Edmund and the
Childe were swapped at birth. Now Edmund lives in secret as a changeling in the
World Above, with fae powers that make him different from everyone else—even
his unwitting parents and older sister, Alexis. The Childe lives among the fae
in the World Below, where being human makes him an oddity at the royal palace,
and where his only friend is a wax golem named Whick.
But when the cruel sorceress Hawthorne takes the throne, the Childe and Edmund realize that the fate of both worlds may be in their hands—even if they’re not sure which world they belong https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31193404-estranged
But when the cruel sorceress Hawthorne takes the throne, the Childe and Edmund realize that the fate of both worlds may be in their hands—even if they’re not sure which world they belong https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31193404-estranged
Reviews
and Resources:
Newcomer Aldridge delivers a fun, daring, and dark take on the classic
switched-at-birth narrative, with themes and art that fall into the realm of
Neil Gaiman, Michael Ende, and Jim Henson. Coupled with the beautifully toned
watercolor art, the interdependence of and tension between the two protagonists
makes this book stand out. Ages 8–12. A
Author/Illustrator
Ethan M. Aldridge
introduces his new graphic novel, Estranged, and talks about his technique for
doing the illustrations and inspirations behind the story.
Interview:
Ethan M. Aldridge
explores queer themes through changelings in the Estranged series
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